Distributing mechanism



June 11, 1940. DOMKE DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Original Filed June 5, 19352 Sheets-Sheet 1 4y km June 11, 1940. F DQMKE 2,204,127

' DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Original Filed June 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented June 11, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,204,127 DISTRIBUTING MECHANISMFred E. Domke, Chicago, IlL, assignor to W. H.

Hutchinson & Son, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisOriginal application June 5, 1935, Serial No.

25,052. Divided and this application October' 30, 1937, Serial No.171,884

8 Claims.

My invention relates to a distributing mechanism, and more particularlyto a machine for arranging and discharging a plurality of articles in anorderly succession.

The mechanism is primarily intended for use T in connection with and asa part of a. machine for feeding counting and packaging closure devicessuch as bottle caps and crowns which are customarily packed in lotscontaining predetermined amounts. Ordinarily these caps are manufactured with a desired finish, and it is of the utmost importance thatthey be handled previously to packaging in such a manner as to avoid anypossibility of the closures becoming deformed or defaced, since theformer defects might lessen the possibility of securing a satisfactoryand permanent seal, while the latter would injure the finish.

It is therefore one object of my invention to provide a distributormechanism to which the closures are delivered in an indiscriminate massand from which the closures proceed in an orderly succession of theindividual closures which are correctly positioned for subsequentpresentation to a counting mechanism, and further in which theclosuresare so handled as to obviate any damage thereto either by way ofdeformation or surface marring.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the character indicated,wherein the closures are carried bodily to the delivery opening thereofand which incorporates a self-cleaning feature for removing dust, corkparticles and foreign material andalso a provision for cooling orventilating the mechanism and closures that is useful in instances wherethe closures are delivered in a heated condition to the mechanism.

This application is a division of my co-pending application for aMachine for feeding, counting, and packaging articles, Serial No.25,052, filed June 5, 1935.

These and further objects of my invention wil be set forth in thefollowing specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and the novel means by which said objects are effectuated willbe definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l. is an elevation of the mechanism partly in section, showingthe drive therefor;

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation, as viewed along the line 22in Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the manner inwhich the closures are discharged singly through the side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 inFig. 2, V

looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the relation of thedischarge. chute to the toothed carrier flange of the distributor;

Fig. 4 is a section along the lihe 44 in Fig. 2, looking in thedirection of the arrows, and showing the guard which prevents movementof any closures through the discharge opening except those resting onthe carrier flange of the distrib utor;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows, and illustrating a detail of the distributoradjacent the discharge opening thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 6 inFig. 2, showing the relation of the discharge chute to the feedingmechanism, which is more particularly described in the above-identifiedapplication, and which presents the closures toa counting mechanism (notshown).

The specific embodiment of my invention as set forth in the presentapplication relates to a machine for the counting and packaging ofbottle caps or crowns. It will be understood, however, that the broaderphases of the invention are likewise applicable to articles in general,inclusive of screw caps and the like, which it is desired to handleunder comparable conditions.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral H1" designates an endlessconveyor of any suitable construction which at one end is locatedadjacent a corking machine (not shown) for receiving therefrom theindividual caps that have had applied thereto the customary cork sealingdisks. These caps, which are thenin a rather hot condition, aredelivered by the conveyor ID to a distributor mechanism l l which issupported on a table I2.

The distributing mechanism comprises an open top drum l3 which isprovided with an' upstanding, annular wall l4 and a skeleton or openframework bottom l5 that is supported in spaced relation to the top ofthe table l2 by legs iii. A distributor. I1 is rotatably mounted withinthe drum I3 and it is provided with a dome-shaped. top wall I8 thatpreferably extends above the upper edge of the drum wall I 4 and whichis also preferably highly polished in order that it will not mar orscratch the caps that are dumped thereon by the conveyor III.

A depending, annular wall l9 extends downwardly from the top I8 inconcentric relation to the drum wall I4 and spaced therefrom a distanceslightly greater than the width of a bottle cap so that the cap will besupported in a vertical plane by a toothed flange 20 which projectsoutwardly from the lower end of the wall l9 into slightly spacedrelation to the inner periphery of the drum wall M, the latter spacingbeing such as to just provide working clearance. The upper side edges ofthe teeth on the flange 20 provide positive shoulder means for movingthe caps circumferentially of the drum against any frictionalretardation offered by the inner surface of the drum wall M.

The distributor i1 is supported by means of a sleeve 21 thatis locatedcentrally thereof and whose lower end bears against the upper edge faceof a. bearing 22 that is supported on the top of the table 12. A shaft23 is journaled in the bearing 22 and its upper end extends through thesleeve 2| for affixation thereto by a pin 24. The lower end of the shaftextends down'below the top of the table I2 and has secured thereto abevel gear 25 which meshes with a bevel gear 26 that is secured to ashaft 21. The shaft 21 is journaled in a pair of hanger bearings 28 thatdepend from the top of the table l2 and the shaft extends beyond thetable for securement to a driving pulley 29 that may be connected to anysuitable source of power.

At a convenient location, a slot 30 is cut in the drum wall M in such amanner that the opposite, parallel faces thereof are substantiallytangentially disposed to the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of thedrum wall M and the distributor wall l9, respectively. One end of adelivery chute 3| is located adjacent the outer end of the slot 30 andthis chute is provided with a guide plate 32 that extends across theannular space between the drum and distributor walls. The inner edge ofthis guide plate may be appropriately beveled in order to place the samein almost touching relation to the peripheral surface of the distributorwall l9, so that this guide plate will exercise a peeling action on thecaps as they are successively brought adjacent the guide plate, therebydirecting the caps gently and without any danger of deformation into thechute 3i. 7

Because of the circular construction of the drum and distributor, itwill be noted in Fig. 3 that, in the region of the delivery slot-30, thetoothed flange 20 moves away from the left wall of the slot 30 in itsrotation and the opening that would otherwise be formed is closed by afiller block 33 having in plan View the marginal outline of aright-angled triangle, the base of which fits against the enteringend ofthe chute 3| to provide a smooth and continuous surface over which thecapsmay pass.

As noted in Fig. 1, the caps are delivered indis- I criminately on theupper wall of the distributor and thereafter slide by gravity into theannular space between the drum wall and distributor wall. In order toprevent the direct movement of any of the freshly delivered caps throughthe delivery slot 30, a guard plate 34 having substantially the marginaloutline shownin plan view in Fig. 4 extends inwardly under the top wallof the slot 30, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, and sufficiently acrossthe annular space between the drum and distributor walls to preventthemovement of any caps into the delivery chute 3|, except those restingdirectly on the toothed flange.

The plate 34 has an car part 35 which is aflixed to the outer surface ofthe drum wall (see Fig. 2)..

ward the top of the table l2. and in one or both of the opposite sidesthereof may be provided sight openings 36 through which the movement ofthe caps can be observed.

The lower end of the chute 3! terminates in delivery relation to one endof the feeding mechanism designated generally by the numeral 3'! in Fig.6, which presents the caps successively to a counting mechanism (notshown), all as described more particularly in the aforesaid copendingapplication.

In the operation of the mechanism it will be understood that before thecaps are delivered to the conveyor it, they may, for example, have hadcork seals applied to the interiors thereof and are thenindiscriminately dumped on the smooth and polished surface of the domewall iii of the distributor H by the conveyor l0. At this time, the capsare ordinarilyin a rather Warm condition and after falling on the domewall [8, they slide into the annular space defined by the drum anddistributor Walls l4 and i9, respectively (see Fig. 2). In this positionthe caps are supported in an upright position with their skirt edgesresting on the toothed flange 2G, with some caps facing in one directionand other caps in an opposite direction owing to the fact that the capsare indiscriminately dropped onto the flange 20. Because of the openconstruction of this flange, any foreign particles, such as dirt, piecesof cork or metal, etc., are evacuated through the openings between theteeth and these openings also serve an additional purpose in possiblycooling to some extent the hot caps. The distributor l7 rotates atconstant speed and carries the caps bodily to the delivery slot 30 wherethe caps are successively directed by the guide plate into the deliverychute 3|. As already noted, and because of the provision of the guardplate 34, only those caps will be directed into the delivery chute whichare actually resting on the flange 20. The operation of the distributortherefore arranges the caps in an orderly succession of the individualcaps and there is no possibility of more than onecap being presented tothe delivery opening of the drum at the same time, or of any clogging ofthe caps. If the distributor is completely or partially filled withcaps, those caps which are not resting directly on the flange 20 will becarried around the drum over the submerged caps and over the guard plateuntil they drop by gravity into vacant places on the flange created bythe discharge of caps into the delivery chute.

The width of the delivery chute 3| is such as to maintain the uprightposition of each cap which is therefore presented in this position tothe cooperating parts of the feeding mechanism 37.

The mechanism is entirely automatic in operation, and continues toarrange and discharge the plurality of caps in an orderly succession aslong as these caps are'supplied to the distributing mechanism. Thelatter handles the caps in such a manner that they are not marred ordamaged in the slightest degree, and they are fed gently to the deliverychute in a position for precise gripping by the feeding mechanism insuch a manner that no strain is applied to the caps.

My improved mechanism is capable of receiving an indiscriminate mass ofcrowns or caps and automatically arranging and discharging the same inan orderly succession at the rate of 850 caps per minute, which isconsiderably in excess of the capacity of any comparable existingmachines. This handling rate can be increased several times by using arelatively larger distributor. y

I claim: l

1. In distributing mechanism for converting an indiscriminate mass ofarticles, such as bottle caps and the like, into an orderly successionof the individual articles, a stationary drum having an annular sidewall with a delivery opening therein, a distributor device having apolished dome-shaped top and a depending annular side wall rotatable inthe drum, said annular walls being spaced apart a distance only slightlygreater than the thickness of the article, a horizontal flange on andextending throughout the lower side of said distributor wall andprojecting into slightly spaced relation to the drum wall and havingshoulders adapted to engage andpositively carry the caps bodily insuccession toward said opening, the caps being indiscriminately dumpedinto the space between the drum and distributor walls onto said flange,and a guide for directing the positively carried caps singly throughsaid opening.

2. In a distributing mechanism for converting an indiscriminate mass ofarticles, such as bottle caps and the like, into an orderly successionof the individual articles, a drum having an annular wall with adelivery opening therein, a distributor rotatable in the drum and havingan annular wall concentric with and spaced from said drum wall andproviding with the latter a space in which the caps are received inedgewise position, a toothed flange projecting outwardly from andcontinuously around the bottom of said distributor wall into slightlyspaced relation to the drum wall, the teeth of said flange being adaptedto engage the side walls of the caps and carry the caps bodily insuccession toward the opening without material retardation due to thecaps engaging the drum wall, the caps being indiscriminately dumped intothe space between said drum and distributor walls and onto said flange,and a guide for directing the caps singly through said opening, thearrangement being such that the spaces between the flange teeth permitforeign particles to drop therethrough and to provide an air ventilatingeffect.

3. In distributing mechanism for converting an indiscriminate mass ofcrown seal caps into an orderly succession of the individual articlescomprising an open top, a circular drum having a delivery opening in theperipheral wall thereof, a circular distributor rotatable in the drumand having a dome-shaped top with a depending circular side wall, saiddrum and distributor walls being substantially concentric and spacedapart such a distance that the caps may be received therebetween inedgewise relation, an annular, peripheral flange projecting atsubstantially right angles from the bottom edge of said distributor wallinto slightly spaced relation to the drum wall and adapted to supportthe caps in edgewise relation, said flange having shoulders adapted topositively engage and carry the caps deposited therein individuallytoward said opening without any substantial retardation due tofrictional engagement between the caps and drum, wall, a guide 4. Indistributing mechanism for converting an indiscriminate mass of crownseal caps into anorderly succession of the individual articlescomprising an open top, a circular drum having a delivery opening in theperipheral wall thereof, a dome-shaped, circular distributor rotatablein the drum and having a toothed flange projecting outwardly intoslightly spaced relation to the drum wall, said drum and distributorbeing spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the thicknessof the caps so that the caps are received therebetween in edgewiserelation only, the caps being dumped on the distributor and dropping onthe flange for carriage to the delivery opening, said flange beingconstructed and arranged to carry said caps forwardly in a positivemanner independently of each other, a guide for directing the capsresting on said flange successively through the delivery opening, and aguard adjacent the opening and forming a passage with the flange andadjacent drum and distributor wall for preventing direct movement of thecaps through the opening, the teeth of said flange forming openingsthrough which foreign particles may drop and also through which air mayenter for direct ventilating contact with the flange carried caps.

5. In a device of the class described adapted for distributing bottlecaps, a stationary drum having a circular side wall with an openingtherein, a rotatable distributing device having a dome-shaped top walland a circular side wall substantially concentric with the side wall ofsaid drum and spaced therefrom such a distance that caps entering suchspace are maintained in edgewise position, a flange on the side wall ofsaid distributor side wall constituting a bottom for the cap-receivingspace, said flange having a plurality of circumferentially spacedopenings defined by edges which serve to positively engage and carry thecaps along with said flange, delivery means associated with said drumopening and extending into the path of said flange for discharging thecaps, said means including structure by which the caps discharged areonly those positively engaged with and carried along by said flange.

6. In distibuting mechanism for converting an indiscriminate mass ofbottle caps into an orderly succession of individual caps comprising, adrum having a substantially circular side wall and a delivery opening insaid side wall; a circular distributor rotatably mounted in said drum,said distributor having a convex top upon which the caps are initiallyreceived and a side wall depending from said top in substantiallyconcentric relation with said drum, side wall; a cap-supporting flangeprojecting outwardly from the side wall of said distributor, theperiphery of said flange being only slightly spaced inwardly from theside wall of said drum, the side walls of said drum and distributorbeing spaced apart a distance such that the caps are received in saidspace only in substantially upright position with a portion of the edgesof said caps resting upon said flange, said flange having spacedtransversely extending edge surfaces adapted to engage and positivelymove the caps resting on said flange toward said delivery openingagainst any retardation offered by the inner surface of said drum sidewall; and means including a guide plate substantially tangentiallydisposed relatively to the side wall of said distributor for divertingthe caps resting on said flange successively through said deliveryopening to a gravity chute for discharge in orderly succession.

'7. In distributing mechanism for converting an indiscriminate mass ofbottle caps into an orderly succession of individual caps comprising, adrum having a substantially circular side wall and a delivery opening insaid side wall; a circular distributor rotatably mounted in said drum,said distributor having a smooth dome-shaped top upon which the caps areinitially received and a side wall depending from said top insubstantially concentric relation with said drum side wall; acap-supporting flange projecting outwardly from the side wall of saiddistributor, the periphery of said flange being only slightly spacedinwardly from the side wall of said drum, the

side walls of said drum and distributor being spaced apart a distancesuch that the caps are received in said space only in substantiallyupright position with a portion of the edges of said caps resting uponsaid flange, said flange having substantially uniformly spaced slotstherein providing cap engaging portions which serve to positively movethe caps resting thereon toward said delivery opening against anyretardation oiiered by the inner surface of said drum side wall; andmeans including a guide plate substantially tangentially disposedrelatively to the side wall of said'distributor for diverting the capsresting on said flange successively through said delivery opening to agravity chute for discharge in orderly succession.

8. In distributing mechanism for converting an indiscriminate mass ofbottle caps into an orderly succession of individual caps comprising, adrum having a substantially circular side wall, a delivery opening insaid side wall, and a bottom Wall portion extending inwardly from saidside wall; a circular distributor rotatably mounted in said drum abovesaid bottom Wall, said distributor having a smooth dome-shaped top uponwhich the caps are initially received and a side wall depending fromsaid top in substantially concentric relation with said drum side wall;a cap-supporting flange projecting outwardly from the side wall of saiddistributor, the periphery of said flange being only slightly spacedinwardly from the side wall of said drum, the side Walls of said drumand distributor being spaced apart a distance such that the caps arereceived in said space only in substantially upright position with aportion of the edges of said caps resting upon said flange, the capengaging portion of said flange having spaced radially directed surfacesadapted to engage and to positively move the caps resting thereon towardsaid delivery opening against any retardation offered by the innersurface of said drum side wall; and means including a guide platesubstantially tangentially disposed relatively to the side wall of saiddistributor for diverting the caps resting on said flange successivelythrough said delivery opening to a gravity chute for discharge inorderly succession.

FRED E. DOMKE.

